Motivations and future plans of Canadian orthodontic residents

Postgraduate orthodontic education: An international perspective on content and satisfaction levels

BACKGROUND

There is significant international variation in the postgraduate orthodontic training. The aim of this study was to obtain information relating to the design, content, and delivery of formal postgraduate orthodontic training internationally. Moreover, we aimed to evaluate the perception of orthodontists towards their training as well as identifying factors associated with an improved level of satisfaction.

METHODS

A 42-question survey was sent to orthodontists worldwide via SurveyMonkey. The survey was circulated on orthodontic Facebook groups and through other digital channels including Instagram.

RESULTS

A total of 168 respondents completed all sections of the questionnaire. The vast majority believed programme length was appropriate (n = 150; 89%). Most respondents were confident with their research skills and in their ability to diagnose and treatment plan. Social media was frequently accessed by the respondents for the purposes of orthodontic education (n = 83; 49%). A high proportion (n = 70; 42%) did not treat any clear aligner cases during postgraduate training with many having experience using InvisalignTM only. The majority of respondents across the regions had training in buccal miniscrew insertions. Exposure to three-dimensional printing during residency was limited.

CONCLUSIONS

The study offers an overview of the structure, content, and modes of delivery in orthodontic postgraduate training internationally. While satisfaction levels are good, there is a disparity in terms of exposure to certain techniques internationally. Further training in the modern diagnostic approaches and mechanics may improve satisfaction with postgraduate training.

Motivations of postgraduate dental students in Australia and New Zealand to pursue a dental specialty training program and their concerns

OBJECTIVES

To determine the motivations of postgraduate dental students to pursue a specialist dental career and their concerns prior to and during the program.

METHODS

A 3-part online survey comprising of participants' background, motivations and concerns and quality of life during the program, was distributed to students enrolled in the Doctor of Clinical Dentistry program in Australia and New Zealand from April to May 2018. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. Two separate reminders were provided two and four weeks after the initial survey was distributed.

RESULTS

There was a 53.6% response rate (97/181 participants). The main factor for pursing a dental specialist degree was intellectual stimulation. Participants who were aged 40 years and above and those who were divorced/separated were most concerned about the amount of study required and finances during the program. Participants in their final year were most concerned about their personal relationships during the program. Orthodontic, oral medicine and paedodontic trainees reported concerns about the lack of exposure of their specialty during undergraduate training while periodontics and orthodontic trainees reported having the least exposure while working.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that dental specialist trainees in Australia and New Zealand were primarily motivated to pursue a specialty for intellectual stimulation. Most students were concerned about the amount of study required, finances and having a work/life balance during the training program. Most students planned to work as associates in private practice upon graduation. Financial benefits may be required to stimulate an interest in academia.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

An understanding of the motivations of postgraduate students is important to help dental programs mentor students in their future career pathway, improve the selection of candidates for the specialty programs and identify key areas to provide support, prior to, or during the program.

Motivating factors associated with choosing orthodontics for future prospects among newly passed out dental professionals in Maharashtra, India

Background:

Choosing postgraduate subject as a future career is always tricky but there are factors associated which persuade the dental undergrads to choose the particular postgraduate course and orthodontics is one of them. Hence, the aim of present study was to determine motivating factors associated with choosing orthodontics for future prospects among newly passed out undergraduate dental professionals.

Materials and Methods:

This was a cross-sectional descriptive questionnaire study. The present study is conducted among the freshly pass out dental professionals who had started their setup. The study was conducted in October–November 2019. The study was conducted among three cities of Maharashtra. Convenient sampling was used to select the samples. A close ended questionnaire was prepared.

Results:

Majority of study participants {64 (45.39%)} belonged to age group 26–28 years. Females respondents {82 (58.15%)} were more than male study participants. Majority of dental professionals {71 (50.35%)} choose orthodontics dentofacial orthopedics as the specialty for future prospect. Most common reasons {16 (22.57%)} to choose orthodontics for future prospect by majority of respondents was “Can earn more money.” Age was significantly (P = 005*) associated with money as reason to choose orthodontic as future prospect. Gender was significantly associated with family pressure (P = 0.01*) and love, interest, and passion for orthodontics (P = 0.01*).

Conclusion:

It was concluded that majority of dental professionals choose orthodontic as their preferred choice. Main reason for choosing orthodontics was monetary benefits followed by the reason that finds orthodontics intellectually and clinically challenging.

Opinions, plans, and demographics of orthodontic residents: A follow-up study

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to explore current orthodontic residents' demographics, their opinions on their residency and plans for the future and highlight secular changes since past surveys.

METHODS

An anonymous 39-item institutional review board-approved survey was implemented at the 2018 Graduate Orthodontic Resident Program using an online survey tool and portable devices. Questions fit 3 categories: program, future goals, and demographics. Responses were analyzed to determine frequencies, means, and cross tabulations. Analyses of variance and chi-square were applied with significance defined as P <0.05.

RESULTS

Of the 489 attendees, 76% completed the survey; most were female (51%), white (60%), U.S. citizens (85%), single (63%), and very satisfied with their programs (54%). Tuition costs varied, but 18% of respondents paid >$80,000 annually. Orthodontic and total educational debts were significantly correlated (r = 0.704) and averaged $137,706 ± $127,380 and $323,071 ± $266,510, respectively. These debts were significantly lower (P <0.0001) for respondents with stipends. Debts influenced the decision of where to work in the future for 62% of respondents and were a source of anxiety for 72% of respondents. Educational debts were significantly positively associated with anxiety levels (P <0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

This survey provided current information on orthodontic residents' opinions, plans, and demographics. Comparisons with previous surveys showed increases in the number of female respondents, tuition costs, and educational debts and decreases in stipends. Orthodontics may be approaching a "bubble market" where the financial benefits do not outweigh specialty education costs.

Orthodontics as a prospective career choice among undergraduate dental students: A prospective study

Objectives:

The purposes of this study were to investigate the factors influencing the career choice of dental students and to identify the future life plans of the students at Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University Dental College who had chosen orthodontics as their future specialty.

Materials and Methods:

An epidemiological descriptive survey was conducted using a set of questionnaire among the second year to fourth year students at Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia. Data were categorized by demographic variables and were analyzed with statistical methods using descriptive statistical analysis.

Results:

The most important factor influencing the decision to pursue specialty in orthodontics was considering that “orthodontics is intellectually challenging” (23%), followed by “previous positive experience” (15%). The decision to become an orthodontist was made by 3.7% of the respondents in the first year of their course, 44.4% in the second year of their study, 11.1% during the third year of their study, 25.9% during the fourth year of their study, while none of them had made their decision during the final year of their dental school studies. Only one student (3.7) said he planned to work in a private college in an academic setting, five students (18.5%) had plans to do private practice, two students indicated that they would work for the Ministry of Health, while most students (40.7%) reported that they were planning to try a combination of all of the above. Six students (22.2%) remained undecided.

Conclusions:

Majority of the students who had chosen orthodontics as their future specialty of choice at Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University Dental College, Saudi Arabia had taken up this specialty as they felt that orthodontics was intellectually challenging.

Motivations and future practice plans of orthodontic residents in Saudi Arabia

Aims:

This study aims to explore the criteria used by graduate students while selecting a career as orthodontists and their future aspirations.

Materials and Methods:

A list of Saudi Board of Orthodontics (SB-Ortho) residents was obtained from the Central and Western regions of the Kingdom and all orthodontic residents (excluding the 1^st year residents) were invited to participate in this survey. Permission to contact the orthodontic residents was obtained from the respective program directors. The final study sample composed of 36 orthodontic residents.

Results:

About 39% of residents chose orthodontic specialty after graduation, nearly 33% selected the career during the undergraduate education while the rest chose the specialty at other stages. Approximately, 67% of the residents chose orthodontic specialty because it is intellectual challenging. Around 25% of residents choose orthodontic to improve their earning and 39% join orthodontic for job prestige. Around 50% of orthodontic Saudi residents planned to use self-ligating brackets; 63.9% planned to use invisalign; 86.1% plan to use temporary anchorage devices. About 72% of residents plan to use a cone-beam computerized tomography; 89% plan to use a digital imaging program; 39% plan to use indirect bonding; and 28% plan to use lingual orthodontics. More than half of the residents showed interest to participate in the research and about a quarter of them were willing to work in small cities.

Conclusions:

Most of the orthodontic residents in Saudi Arabia take up this specialty as they felt that it was intellectually challenging. The SB-Ortho program adequately prepares the residents in all the modern aspects of the specialty.

Motivational factors and future life plans of orthodontic residents in the United States

INTRODUCTION

The purposes of this study were to investigate factors influencing career choice and identify future life plans of orthodontic residents in the United States.

METHODS

Program chairs and directors of all 65 orthodontic residency programs in the United States were contacted by e-mail and telephone for permission to e-mail their residents and invite them to take part in on online survey. A total of 335 residents from 37 programs were invited to complete an anonymous 57-item questionnaire in May 2007. Data were categorized, and basic statistics including chi-square comparative analyses were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 136 (40.60%) residents completed the survey. A "passion for orthodontics" emerged as the most important factor (20.29%) influencing the decision to pursue orthodontics as a career, followed by "intellectual stimulation or challenge" (18.12%). Most residents decided to become an orthodontist before they were in dental school (44.93%). Most residents (89.05%) plan to engage in private practice, and only 2 intend to pursue primarily an academic career. The average resident debt was $165,226 at the end of their program.

CONCLUSIONS

The decision to become an orthodontist is often made early in life, before dental school, and a passion for orthodontics is the motivational factor. Residents plan to enter private practice and not pursue a career in academia. The current shortage of academics and orthodontic researchers will not be resolved from the current pool of orthodontic residents. A possible solution to the academic crisis is to change the selection criteria in programs to accept orthodontic residents who develop a passion for orthodontics while in dental school or to recruit primary researchers and teachers to the specialty. Residents plan to practice in an urban setting. Rural and underserviced areas will probably continue to experience shortages of orthodontists in the future.

Future practice plans of orthodontic residents in the United States

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to investigate the future clinical practice plans of orthodontic residents in the United States.

METHODS

All program chairs and directors of the 65 US orthodontic residency programs were contacted by e-mail and telephone and asked for permission to e-mail their residents and invite them to take part in an anonymous 57-item questionnaire online. A total of 335 e-mails from 37 programs were obtained, and the survey was sent in May 2007. Basic statistics including chi-square comparative analyses were performed by sex, age, and year of program.

RESULTS

A total of 63.04% of orthodontic residents plan to use self-ligating brackets; 84.06% plan to use Invisalign (Align Technology, Santa Clara, Calif); 92.03% plan to use temporary anchorage devices, and 72.26% plan on placing them themselves; 28.26% plan to use cone-beam computerized tomography; 92.75% plan to use a digital imaging program; 45.65% plan to use indirect bonding; and 10.87% plan to use lingual orthodontics. A total of 70.07% plan to use 2-phase treatment, and 61.59% said they will use functional appliances. A total of 81.16% plan to become certified by the American Board of Orthodontics, but only 18.12% thought certification should be mandatory for licensure; 36.50% indicated that a master of science degree should be required in their program, and 77.94% believe that a 24- to 30-month program adequately prepares them for future orthodontic practice.

CONCLUSIONS

Newer orthodontic technologies such as self-ligating brackets, temporary anchorage devices, and Invisalign as well as functional appliances are expected to grow in popularity in the United States because of projected future use by orthodontic residents. Two-phase orthodontic treatment with functional appliance mechanics will continue to be used. Most orthodontic residents will become certified by the American Board of Orthodontics but do not believe it should be necessary for licensure. Orthodontic residents in the United States believe that a 2-year program adequately prepares them for private practice.